Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| декре́тный о́тпуск | dekrétnyj ótpusk | masculine |
| о́тпуск по бере́менности и ро́дам | ótpusk po berémennosti i ródam | masculine |
The phrase refers to a leave of absence. While the noun phrase is декре́тный о́тпуск, people often use the verbal expression уйти в декрет to mean 'to go on maternity leave'.
What does it mean word for word?
декре́тный о́тпуск literally means 'decree leave'. The adjective декре́тный is derived from декрет (decree), which refers to the legal decree that established such leaves.
Which one should you use?
In Russian, декре́тный о́тпуск is often used colloquially to cover the entire period of leave, whereas in English, 'maternity leave' specifically refers to the mother's leave.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase о́тпуск по бере́менности и ро́дам is the formal, legal term used in official documents and labor law. Both декре́тный о́тпуск and о́тпуск по бере́менности и ро́дам are considered formal terms.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belarus, the term Больничный по родам is used as an equivalent of 'sick leave due to childbirth'.
How do you pronounce it?
dekrétnyj ótpusk
Did you know?
- While декре́тный о́тпуск is common, a father can also 'go into' декрет in Russia if he takes over the childcare leave after the mother.
- In common conversation, the phrase уйти в декрет is often used to describe the entire period of childcare, which can last up to three years, far beyond the actual 'maternity leave' period.
- The expression выходить из декре́та is used when a mother returns to work, literally meaning 'to exit the decree'.
Examples in context
- Наша компания предоставляет молодым мамам декретный отпуск.Our company provides young mothers with maternity leave.
- После родов я хочу взять отпуск по материнству.After giving birth, I want to take maternity leave.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maternity leave” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
